Hernandez (left) interacts with participants at the “Urban Sustainability at Home” program, a camp he helped organize.
Dailee (Daila) Hernandez, assistant vice chancellor for strategic initiatives, was named this year one of the 50 most influential Latinos in Georgia by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a prestigious award that recognizes her contributions to teaching and mentoring, as well as outcomes-driven research.
She received the award at a luncheon celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month on Sept. 20 at Truist Park.
Hernández currently serves as a senior academic specialist in the Office of Academic Impact and is also the principal investigator on the NSF-funded grant, “Research Collaboration: Integrating Culturally Relevant Computational Music Practices to Expand Latino Student Participation in Computer Science” (REMEZCLA), a collaborative project between Georgia Tech and the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, that addresses the under-representation of Latino and Spanish-speaking students in computer science.
Prior to joining the Georgia Tech faculty in 2011, Hernandez’s academic path began with a degree in Psychology at the University of Havana. She then moved to the United States and earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology from New Mexico State University. Her passion for understanding human behavior and learning led her to earn her Master’s and PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Arizona.
Hernández’s academic research and publications focus on increasing understanding of how social identity issues impact students’ educational, learning, and career success, as well as developing innovative programs that support equity and address barriers. Throughout her career, she has developed an award-winning pipeline program for Latinx students entering post-secondary STEM education, as well as interdisciplinary research programs and curricula that employ culturally relevant and culturally sustaining pedagogies.
Hernandez’s dedication to teaching and innovative research has had a profound impact on Georgia Tech’s academic community and beyond.
“This recognition is a testament to Dilley’s outstanding leadership and contributions to the underrepresented student community at Tech,” said Steve McLaughlin, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Her work not only deepens our understanding of educational psychology, but also paves the way for more inclusive and effective educational practices.”
Writer: Julianne Hills, Senior Writer/Editor, Executive Communications, Institute Communications
